Dipsy-doodle and Vorlage?

I just finished reading LaChapelle's "Deep Powder Snow" (quirky and odd, but fascinating)- she talks about both vorlage and dipsy-doodle (along with half-dipsy) ski technique. Can anyone explain what these older techniques are, and when you might have used 'em? <br><br>all praise capricious Ullr!<br><br>Drew

You can read about the vorlage technique at: wildsnow.com/articles/at_article_big/at_article_big.html

Damn, some of you tele folks have got to try that out!

Here is a link to comments about vorlage from a 1937 book review in the Mountaineer Bulletin.  Vorlage was just forward lean. It was the recommended technique for driving wood skis through a medium-radius parallel turn when wearing leather boots.<br><br>

<br>A review of Skiing by Charles N. Proctor and Rockwell R. Stephens concludes: "If the book may be said to have one underlying theme it is: Vorlage--forward lean--boots to fit your feet; harness to fit your boots; harness to hold your heel down on the ski and give you something to lean against for forward you must lean.  Vorlage!"<br>

<br><br> Here's a link to notes about the Dipsy Doodle in the Winter 1996 issue of Skiing Heritage.<br><br>

<br>The worlds first very quick short linked powder turns were invented at Alta during the winter of 1940-41 by Dick Durrance.  This was 15 years before wedeln came on the scene.  The Dipsy Doodle was Durrance's way of getting down the narrow, steep Alta powder chutes.  The name came from a 1937 record, sung by Edythe Wright with Tommy Dorsey's band.  Here's a description of the technique:<br><br>"The ski nearer the fall line is lifted and stepped nearer to the fall line or across the fall line.  Then the second ski is stepped parallel the first.  Then the skis are both turned quickly in the direction of the step.  This completes a turn to the fall line or across it.  The second turn is made immediately thereafter in exactly the opposite manner, making a second quick turn in the fall line."<br>

<br><br> Here's a link to the lyrics of "The Dipsy Doodle," which my brother Carl sent me some time ago.<br><br>

<br>The Dipsy Doodle<br>Tommy Dorsey <br><br>The dipsy doodle is the thing to beware<br>The dipsy doodle will get in your hair<br>And if it gets you, it couldn't be worse<br>The things you say will come out in reverse<br>Like "You love I and me love you!"<br>That's the way the dipsy doodle works.<br>You can't eat, you can't sleep. You go crazy.<br>You're just a victim of the dipsy doodle<br>And it's not your mind that's hazy<br>It's your heart that's at fault - not your noodle.<br>You better listen and try to be good<br>And try to do all the things that you should<br>The dipsy doodle will get you some day<br>And when it gets you the things you will say<br>Like the moon jumped over the cow - hey diddle!<br>That's the way the dipsy doodle works.<br>